Thursday, February 25, 2010

Argentina Notes

Mendoza - very clean. Buenos Aires NOT so clean but has charm and vibe of big international city. If they would just throw the paper and plastic in trash cans and not on the street.

Babies or small kids are caried in parents arms - sidewalks are too rough for baby carriages or strollers.

Where are the green fields? I see flat and dusty, sandy looking fields where cattle and sheep are grasing in the South below Puerto Madryn.

Between 1:00 - 4:00 or even 5:00 - no business, don´t visit a small town during this time it will be closed!

Dinner time is 9:00 - midnight.

Ice Cream - national favorite, will be eaten anytime of the day and a good place has almost always a long line.

Vegetables with a meat dinner- NEVER! Only meat with meat.

Citroen (The Ugly Duckling from the 60s) counted 15 so far.

Peugot, VW, Chevy and Fiat to small cars.

Dress code - casual or very casual sometimes business casual.

Wine in Restaurant - more or less the same price you pay in store.

You never get rushed, in a Restaurant, to pay.

Fun thing to do: watch traffic at 4 way intersection with no lights or sign.

Live Parking meters - official people with tickets walk the street so you can pay for parking.

Car wash while you park - with rag and bucket of water from street.

WiFi - everywhere

Mate - Argentinian national drink. Everyone carries a thermos bottle with hot water to make Mate in the afternoon, taste like Birch tree bark. MATE

Money - Coins - there are pesos 2 and higher bills, pesos 1 and less are coins. Nobody has or will give you coins. Most prices are full pesos. City Buses require coins only! I had a bill for 2 coffees for pesos 6.50 and gave a 10 bill was ask for change when I said that I don`t have any I got 4 pesos back. Happens many times. There is a shortage some say other think it is hording??

Prices in AR$ (AR$ 3.8 = 1 US$):
In the Patagonia region it is more expensive (the high side)

Ice cream cones = 3 - 18

Dinner for two = 90 - 125 (with wine)

Bottle Beer 1 liter = 11 - 18

Glass of wine = 11- 15

Bottle of wine = 15 - 200+

Draft Beer Microbrewery pint = 15

Sandwich = 20 - 30

Pizza in Restaurant = 30 - 50

Bus trip 13 hours (800 miles) Business class type seats 220

Group Tours with guide in bus 1 day 120 - 150

Hostels private room 2 beds w. bath = 180 - 290

Hostel dorm room 20 - 30

Hotels (with Air) 250 - xxx

Social Security 930 / month after 9% raise, will be raised again by 9% this year.